An ex-Coronation Street actor who died following an insulin overdose could no longer remember lines after his mental and physical health deteriorated, his inquest heard today.

Iain Rogerson, who played Harry Flagg for two years in the ITV soap and had a string of roles in shows including The Bill, Heartbeat, Emmerdale and Doctors, died at Wrexham Maelor on October 13 last year.

Days earlier, the 56-year-old had been admitted to the hospital after being found collapsed at his home on Church Street in Chirk with an insulin needle in his leg.

The inquest heard letters and notes he’d written may have suggested the former actor was considering taking his own life.

But this was dismissed by John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, who said Mr Rogerson’s thoughts had been disjointed and confused after he suffered from mental illness.

Iain Rogerson

Recording a conclusion of death by natural causes, Mr Gittins said he believed Mr Rogerson had been trying to treat a diabetic episode when he collapsed.

Doctors said Mr Rogerson, who also appeared in the films Mike Bassett: England Manager, To Kill A King and Bedazzled, suffered brain damage from a lack of oxygen due to the insulin overdose.

The inquest heard Mr Rogerson divorced his wife around 2008 and had financial problems.

He developed pancreatitis and was diagnosed with Type 3 diabetes due to heavy drinking, which left him dependent on insulin injections.

In a statement to the inquest, his father Raymond Rogerson said his son’s mental health deteriorated and he would often “fall into a trance” and have no memory of it.

Although he had stopped drinking excessively years ago, the Weaverham-born actor was suffering memory loss and had no hope of getting acting work “because he couldn’t remember his lines”, said his father.

Paying tribute to his son, Mr Rogerson said: “We are so proud of our son and the achievements he had on stage and screen.”

Mr Gittins said: “He was a man who had clearly been struggling with mental and physical health issues.